Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-09
NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.
THE PRESIDENT WRITES TO THE
GLOUCESTER FISHERMEN.

He Tells Them That the Interest in Re
taliation Is Not Confined to One Cor
ner of the Country-Canada Precipi-
tating the Issue-A Yankee Shippers
Ardor for the Fray.
WASHINGTON CITY, April 9-President
Cleveland Friday sent the following reply to
communication from the American Fishery
union of Massachusetts,, calling his attention
to the fisheries dispute. and suggesting that
the retaliatory acts passed by congress would
J he sufficiently executed if the proposed retail
iation was confined to the closing of United
States markets to Canadian fish products.
GENTLEMEN: | have received your letter
| lately addressed TO me, and have given full
| consideration TO the expression Of the views
| and wishes therein contained, 10 relation to
the differences between the government of
| Great Britain and citizens of the United
States engaged in fishing enterprises the
privileges TO which they are entitled either
under treaty stipulations or the guarantees
Of international comfy and neighborly con-
eession.
| | sincerely trust the apprehension you ex-
press of unjust and untrIendly treatment of
| American fishermen lawfully found in Cana
dian waters will not be realized But if such
apprehension should prove to be well
founded, | earnestly hope that no fault or
inconsicierate action of any OF our citizens
will in the least weaken the Just position of
our government, or deprive us OF the uni
versai sympathy and support to which we
should-be entitled
The act nf congress approved March 5,
1881, authorizing course of retaliation
through executive action in the event of
continuance On the part OF the British-Amer-
| Icau autnoil les OF unirleIdly conduct and
treaty vlitaIions affecting American fisher
men mas devcivei ul'ou the president of the
| United States exceedingly grave and solemn
| esponsl biiltles, comprehendng highly i'm
rortaDt consequences 10 our national char
| acter and dignity, and involving extremely
valuable intercourse between the British pos
sessions in North America and the people of
the United States. | understand that the
| main purpose of your letter is to suggest
that, IN case recourSeft to the reta iiatory meas
ures authorized by this act should be invited
by unjust treatment of our fishermen in the
future, the object OF such retaliation might
be fully accomplished by prohibiting Cana
dIan-caught fish from entry into the ports Of
the United States
The existing controversy is one IN which
two nations are the parties concerned. The
retaliation contemplated ny tine act of con
RifSs Is W pe tHiDf iift 10 IIOtStl SDitlf
any particular interest, however meritorious
or valuable, but to maintain the national
honor, and thus protect all our people. In
this view, the violation OF American fishery
rig hts and Just or unfriendly acts toward
a portion of our citizens engaged in this
business, IS but the occasion for action and
constitutes national affrnnt which gives
birth to, or may Justify, retaliation This
measure once resorfed to, its effectiveness
and value may well depend upon the thor
oughness and extent of its application, and
in the performance Of International duties
the enforcement of international rights ami
the protection of our citizens, this govern
ment and the people Of the United States
must act a a nnit-al latent upon attaining
the best result of retaliation upon the basis
of maintenance of national honor and
duty.
A nation seeking by any means to main
tain its honor. diSnl,y. and integrity is en-
gagged in protecting the rights of its people
and if in such efforts particular interests are
injured and special advantages forfeited
these things should be patriotcaiiy borne
for the public good
An immense volume Of population, manu-
features and agricultural productions. and
the marine tonnage and railways TO which
these have given activity, all largely the re
suit of intercourse between the United States
and British America. ami the natural growth
| OF iul nail century NJ goOd e1ChbOrhOod
and friendly communication fors an acpre-
gate of material wealth and incidental rela-
tlons Of most impressive magnitude fully
appreciate these things, and am not u1mind-
full of the great number Of our people who
are concerned in such vast and diversified in
terests
| In the performance of the serious duty
which the congress has imposed upon me,
and in the exercise on just occasion of the
power conferred under the act referred to,
shall deem myself bound to infiict no unnec-
essarv damage or injury upon any portion of
nur people. but I shall, nevertheless, he I'M
fiinchinslv guided bv a sense of what the
self respect and dignity of the nation de-
msnds In the maintenance of these, and
IN thes1lpport of the honor of the government
beneath which every citizen NAV rerose in
safety, no sacrifice of personal private inter
asts shall he considered as against the gen
eral welfare Yours very truly.
GROVER CIFvFLANp